Shujaa depart for Hong Kong with focus on good tidings
Fijian turned Kenyan Jone Kubu who made his debut in the last round in Vancouver, Canada has retained his spot
Kenya Shujaa left the country on Sunday night with hopes of making amends after four legs of underperformance in the HSBC Series as they seek to fight all the way to the end with survival in mind.
The sevens team under coach Kevin Wambua have back to back engagements in Hong Kong and Singapore in the Asian leg of the series and will be hopeful the gods of favor shine their rays on them. Hong Kong 7s is slated for March 28th -30th, 2025, with Singapore coming a week later on April 5th-6th 2025.
KCB RFC winger Festus “Smardi”Shiasi is the only change with the 28 year old coming in for Kabras RFC youngster Jackson Siketi who has been dropped for the two legs. Fijian turned Kenyan Jone Kubu who made his debut in the last round in Vancouver, Canada has retained his spot and his experience should count for something with the versatile playmaker being those looked at to make impact.
The main core team has made the cut including the returning 23 year old speedy winger Patrick Odongo who in the latter stages of the last tournament in the northern hemisphere was unwell. He joins the other group led by co-captains Samuel Asati (KCB RFC) and George “Japolo “Ooro (Strathmore Leos). Others in the squad are; Kelvin Wekesa (Monaco Rugby 7s), Vincent Onyala (KCB RFC),Scrum half Brian Tanga (Kabras Sugar RFC ),Dennis Abukuse (Menengai Oilers),Tony Omondi and Nygel Amaitsa (Strathmore Leos).
Shujaa is in a tricky pool (Hong Kong) where they face Spain, France and Great Britain. For them to stay alive, they will need to ensure that in both Hong Kong and Singapore legs, they go beyond group stages before they embark on the season ender in Los Angeles.
Great Britain and France are familiar opponents, having played against Shujaa in the recently concluded Vancouver 7s. Kenya bowed 33-7 to France before losing 26-10 loss to Great Britain.
Kenya is currently ninth in the HSBC 7s standings with 15 points total out of four legs done in Cape Town, Dubai, Perth and Vancouver. They are currently tied on points with Uruguay and a whopping 15 points off the top eight with Great Britain in that elusive spot on 32 points.
